Mobile data 101: wireless devices: high technology that fits in the palm of a hand.

• Author: Cinelli, Steve

Mobile data is about to change your life. In the not-so-distant future, it's likely that the change will be as profound as the first time you sent an e-mail message. Perhaps your first experience with e-mail left you with the impression that it was a nifty gadget. Now try to imagine your life without e-mail. That is where mobile data is going to take us. Everything that happens on your desk at work will soon be occurring on a wireless device that fits in the palm of your hand. Soon you may grow so accustomed to mobile data that living without it would be like living without e-mail. In the meantime, let's get acquainted to this new technology. Welcome to Mobile Data 101.

There are a number of mobile data products available in Alaska today. Accessing these products requires two things: 1) a subscription to the appropriate service, and 2) the appropriate wireless device. Mobile data services include Internet and e-mail access, short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), and downloadable content. The enabling devices include a traditional handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and aircard for your laptop computer.

SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS

Mobile Internet access is just that-access to the Internet via your wireless device. Depending on your needs and budget, your mobile Internet experience can vary considerably. At the low end of the spectrum is a low-speed connection using a cell phone, and at the high end of the spectrum is a high-speed connection using a laptop computer. Regardless of the type of experience you wish, all that is required to be up and running is the appropriate device and a service subscription.

E-mail access from your wireless device may be the most compelling reason to subscribe to a mobile data product. Unfortunately, it may be the most difficult product to enable. Enabling mobile e-mail access isn't always as easy as subscribing to a rate plan, and may require the involvement of your company's IT department, as your wireless device may need to be synchronized with your company's e-mail server.

SMS enables is the ability to send short text messages from one mobile device to another device. Additionally, it may also be possible to send text messages to a mobile device via a special Web page. SMS is a convenient way to convey short but urgent messages to coworkers who would otherwise be unavailable. For instance, many people either put their phone on silent or they ignore incoming phone calls while in...